SDCC 2013: Best & Worst Manga

On Saturday evening, an opinionated group of manga and comics bloggers, retailers, editors, and pundits gathered to rant and rave (okay, mostly rant) about the best new manga that debuted in the past year, the continuing manga series most worth reading, the most anticipated upcoming releases, the Japanese manga we most want to see licensed/published in English, and of course, the worst manga that you’d best avoid.

Well, we had five pundits who had very different opinions on these books! Those two titles in particular were somewhat polarizing, but I think it made for an interesting discussion. I hope to post a link to the audio soon and/or post some of the comments we made about our choices, so to provide more context.

The reason why I didn’t at this time is that I didn’t want to delay posting this list any longer than I already have. I had originally hoped to have it up by Sunday morning, but Comic-Con ate my brain – Deb

@STiger — I think you’re taking the categories a little too literally! Best New Manga for kids/teens doesn’t mean it’s ONLY interesting/suitable for younger readers! I’m perfectly aware that One Punch Man is serialized on Young Jump’s website in Japan, a magazine that’s geared for 20-something readers. But let’s not quibble — I don’t have a problem recommending One Punch Man to a reader who’s say… 15. I think it’s a HOOT for readers age 13 – 53 — it’s that good. Keep in mind that it’s serialized in the US edition of Weekly Shonen Jump, which is largely geared to readers age 13 and up.

So anyway, don’t sweat it too much — we’re not insulting your taste in manga as ‘kids stuff’ if that’s what’s bothering you!

Also, the title of the panel was the best and worst manga of 2013 — so the guideline I gave to the panelists when they were making their picks was that they had to pick titles that had new volumes released in NORTH AMERICA within the last 12 months. And JoJo’s… well… sorry. It didn’t make the cut.

Anyway, lists like this are meant to be opinions, not facts! So your mileage may vary.

Shounen means young boy in Japan and that is the demographic in Japan and obviously in most countries shonen is aimed at teenagers, but many people over 19 read it anyway because it’s amazing for example One Piece is one of those shonen that are read by adults due to it’s themes.

I agree with Heart of Thomas being on the worst list; it’s a creaky, derivative melodrama that can’t rise above its outdated morality. Personally I would hate for a kid, especially an LGBTQ kid, to read this book and take it seriously; not only are girls and women uniformly portrayed as pathetic, its trajectories for boys attracted to boys end in suicide or priesthood. Granted, Heart of Thomas is a product of its time, but in contrast, the movie it was based on, Les amitiés particulières, is even 10 years older and remains compelling and relevant.

I hope The Passion of Gengorah Tagame is just the beginning of seeing this amazing artist’s work available in english. He is a true visionary, even if much of his vision reminds me of the vivid nightmares I had after reading the Inferno for the first time.

As far as a license requests, BL fans are still waiting for an english release of Setona Mizushiro’s The Cornered Mouse Dreams of Cheese and The Carp on the Chopping Block Jumps Twice. Like Gengoroh Tagame’s work, they’ve been available in multiple other languages for years.

Ah, it’s posts like these that make me especially miss Comic-Con and remind me that I need to get back to reading manga! After a self-imposed hiatus (I’m surviving toddler-hood right now), I think I’m ready to start digging back into good comics, especially since they’re easier than ever to find in my local libraries. Looking forward to reading more, Deb!

After years of reading mainly European and North American comics i’ve spent the last 6 months getting into Manga. I’ve been ploughing throught plenty of classic stuff – Tezuka, Otomo, Taiyo Matsumoto, Umezu’s Drifting Classroom etc It really feels like finding buried tresure.

Anyway, having lists like these arounf is super helpful for a new boy. Thanks!

I like Bleach sure it’s a mess in a lot of ways but I find it odd that Bleach gets listed as one of the worst and a title like Mayo Chiki or Haganai don’t (mind you I read and enjoy both of those titles but they seem more deserveing of being put in “the worst” than Bleach) just my two cents

I’m only hoping that Saint Oniisan could be included on that list… it’s hilarious although it’s not likely that it will be licensed in the US due to Jesus being in it and licensing companies not having enough money to deal with definite lawsuits from ultra-conservative Christian groups.

In the “UNDER-RATED BUT GREAT MANGA YOU SHOULD BE READING NOW” list Eyeshield 21 should be there, it’s AWSOME, the art is great, the characters are special, unique and cool, the plot is simple but exciting, everyone should read that manga!!

These guys are off on reviews. I as a 30 yr old ma, enjoy attack on titan a lot. It is a thrill ride of action and at the end of each manga you are left with a cliffhanger and the edge of your seat. Sacred black smith is very good as well. I find it odd to even have a kids or teen manga label when mangas are for all ages. Blue exorcists is decent to. one piece makes me lol. got to love luffy.

Manga is the Japanese word for comics and cartoons in print. Manga is well respected as both art and as a form of popular literature. In fact, much the the adult population in Japan read manga and several major manga magazines in Japan sell several million copies each week.